Beyond the Game: How the World Cup Will Transform Kansas City’s Economy
Soccer’s biggest stage will drive economic and workforce growth
BY HUNTER MIESNER
Lesly Romo (BBA ’25), owner of Golazo, a local fan engagement company PHOTO / BRANDON PARIGO
When the FIFA World Cup arrives in Kansas City, it will bring more than just international fans and thrilling matches. It will deliver a seismic economic ripple of $653 million across the metro and beyond. The global sporting event will challenge and transform the region in lasting ways, driving change from workforce development to supply-chain innovation.
A Nationwide Economic Surge
Kansas City is one of 11 U.S. cities hosting matches, and FIFA projects the World Cup will add $17.2 billion to the U.S. gross domestic product. This economic activity will support 184,679 full-time equivalent jobs across the country, with major gains in hospitality, technical services, air transport and retail.
Cities like Miami and Los Angeles may see boosts in tourism, while tech hubs like Seattle and San Francisco may benefit from increased demand for digital infrastructure and logistics innovation. In the New York/New Jersey region, financial services and media may play a central role in amplifying the global reach of the event and driving international business.
Building a Workforce for the Moment and the Future
Major sporting events like this one create a surge in short-term employment, particularly in hospitality, construction and event support. But can these temporary jobs lead to long-term workforce development?
“There are 60,000 hospitality jobs being filled for just one month next summer,” said Brent Never, Ph.D., associate dean and associate professor of public affairs and director of the Midwest Center for Nonprofit Leadership. “The hope is that when money comes to the region, it circulates locally, supporting small businesses, landlords and restaurant staff.”
Kansas City is taking steps to ensure that local businesses benefit, offering micro-grants to help entrepreneurs launch pop-up storefronts in vacant spaces. But the challenge remains: what happens after the final whistle?
The Henry W. Bloch School of Management is helping answer that question. Through programs like Regnier Venture Accelerator, students are gaining entrepreneurial skills that position them to thrive in moments like this and beyond.
“This is a great opportunity for students to flex their ideas and skills,” Never said. “We’re preparing them to be at the forefront of innovation.”
One of those students is recent graduate Lesly Romo (BBA ’25), whose business venture is transforming her personal passion for soccer into a platform for cultural connection and community development.
Golazo, backed by Regnier Venture Accelerator, is a fan engagement company transforming how people experience soccer through mobile sports activations and inclusive, community-driven programming. In Kansas City, home to the nation’s largest soccer league with over 30,000 players, Golazo creates welcoming spaces for players of all backgrounds and skill levels. Beyond stadiums, it partners with corporate and nonprofit organizations like the Hispanic Development Fund and Heartland Black Chamber of Commerce to deliver activations that celebrate culture and promote team building.
“My time at the Bloch School helped me develop the foundational pieces I needed to grow as an entrepreneur,” Romo said. “Being a three-time Regnier Venture Accelerator student took me from an idea to a real venture in just a few months. The mentors, the program and the connections I made gave me the confidence to prove my concept early on.”
Golazo activations provide soccer fans with an interactive, engaging and memorable experience. PHOTO / LESLY ROMO
Supply Chain Under Pressure
The World Cup also exposes the intricacies of modern supply chains. From sourcing materials for infrastructure upgrades to managing surges in merchandise demand, an event of this scale pushes both local and global logistics systems to their limits. Noah Bonner (BBA ’23), a UMKC alum and demand planner at Hallmark, knows this firsthand.
“You have to plan for demand months in advance. It’s all-hands-on-deck to get inventory in place and shipped out from our distribution center,” said Bonner, who credits UMKC’s real-world approach — guest lectures from industry leaders and urban immersion — for preparing him to navigate these challenges.
But managing logistics alone does not tell the full story. External pressures like tariffs add volatility to an already complex equation.
“It’s not just the cost, it’s the unpredictability,” said Larry Wigger (M.A. ’20, GRCT/Ph.D. ’23), faculty director of assessment and accreditation and teaching professor of supply chain management. “Businesses hesitate to invest when they don’t know what the final bill will be.”
Such unpredictability reverberates through the broader economy, complicating everything from retail shelves to major construction projects. The South Loop Project outlines plans for Roy Blunt Luminary Park, an urban park built over Interstate 670 that will connect the Central Business and Crossroads Arts districts. Originally planned to support the World Cup, the project now faces delays after rising steel costs added $100 million to its budget.
Compounding these challenges is Kansas City’s fragmented governance, spanning two states and more than 100 municipalities. Unlike cities with integrated transit systems, Kansas City’s car-dependent infrastructure raises concerns about accessibility and congestion.
“There’s no direct transit from the airport to downtown or Arrowhead Stadium,” Bonner said. “Short-term solutions like shuttles and bus rapid transit are being considered, but it’s a challenge.”
Hotel capacity is another challenge. As part of its bid to host the World Cup, Kansas City had to demonstrate access to 55,000 hotel rooms within a two-and-a-half-hour radius. With an estimated 650,000 visitors expected across the region over the 35-day tournament, surrounding cities are preparing to absorb the overflow. In June 2025, Airbnb projected that about 158,000 tourists would need lodging during the World Cup in the Kansas City region, with roughly 11,000 staying in Airbnb rentals.
“This is a great opportunity for students to flex their ideas and skills. We’re preparing them to be at the forefront of innovation.”
— Brent Never, Ph.D., associate dean and associate professor of public affairs and director of the Midwest Center for Nonprofit Leadership
Educating the Next Generation of Leaders
At UMKC, supply-chain education is evolving to meet modern challenges. Instructors teach students to think systematically and consider the entire network of organizations and processes that move goods and services every day.
“We’re pushing data transparency and AI integration,” Wigger said. “Students are using real-world platforms and simulations to prepare for the workforce.”
Faculty like Adjunct Professor John Thong, M.A., help drive this shift.
“I show our students how we’re using AI to do data analytics and drive real, practical solutions,” Thong said. “It’s not just textbook theory — it’s what’s happening in the real world.”
With tools like Systems, Applications and Products in Data Processing and other analytics platforms replacing formula-based teaching, students gain hands-on experience with the same software used by global companies.
And as Kansas City prepares to take the global stage, UMKC is making sure its graduates are ready to lead.